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Legislative Assembly briefs
MLAs ponder election run

Myles Dolphin and Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 23, 2013

NUNAVUT
The territorial election is only a month away and most Nunavut MLAs have announced their intentions for re-election.

The new electoral boundaries, featured in Bill 22 - the Act Respecting Constituencies of Nunavut - were implemented in 2011 after recommendations made by the Nunavut Electoral Boundaries Commission.

Under the new map, the number of constituencies will rise to 22 from the previous 19.

Arviat, Iglulik and Iqaluit will each get an additional MLA.

Repulse Bay and Coral Harbour will be paired together in a constituency while Kugaaruk and Taloyoak will make up another one.

Gjoa Haven will now have its own MLA, as will Hall Beach.

Whale Cove, previously with Rankin Inlet South, will now be grouped with Arviat North while Rankin Inlet North will be paired with Chesterfield Inlet.

In the Kitikmeot region, Kugluktuk MLA Peter Taptuna will be running for re-election, but Akulliq MLA John Ningark announced he will not. Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson and Nattilik MLA Jeannie Ugyuk are still on the fence.

In the Kivalliq region, Rankin Inlet South-Whale Cove MLA Lorne Kusugak and Nanulik MLA Johnny Ningeongan are running again, while Arviat MLA Daniel Shewchuk, Baker Lake MLA Moses Aupaluktuq and Rankin Inlet North MLA Tagak Curley are not.

In the Qikiqtaaluk region, Quttiktuq MLA Ron Elliott, Pangnirtung MLA Hezakiah Oshutapik, Tununiq MLA Joe Enook and Hudson Bay MLA Allan Rumbolt are running.

Iqaluit West MLA Monica Ell and Iqaluit East MLA Eva Aariak will be running again, but not Uqqummiut MLA James Arreak nor Amittuq MLA Louis Tapardjuk.

South Baffin MLA Fred Schell and Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo were still uncertain at the time of publication.

Plan for new health centre in Cape Dorset going ahead

Plans to replace Cape Dorset's aging health centre are still going ahead, according to the health minister.

The project is currently in the planning process and no set date has been determined for when construction will start, said Keith Peterson in answer to a question asked by MLA Fred Schell in the legislative assembly on Sept. 16.

Schell was wondering why the project had not been marked as ongoing like the health centre projects for Arctic Bay, Repulse Bay and Taloyoak.

Peterson said he expects funding will be identified in next year's capital estimates so the planning can continue.

Cape Dorset's health centre was built in 1983 and is one of the oldest health centres in Nunavut, noted Schell.

"(It) is facing some serious issues due to aging, especially with respect to code upgrades, ventilation problems, and overcrowding of programs," he said.

Materials sent to wrong community

Hudson Bay MLA Allan Rumbolt announced work has finally begun to replace boilers and sewage lines at the Nuiyak School in his community.

Speaking to the minister for Community and Government Services, Lorne Kusugak, Rumbolt asked why the work was underway when the school year has just begun. He also wondered about the delay in construction, as the material had been in the hamlet for the past year.

Kusugak replied the material had accidentally been shipped to Qikiqtarjuaq, and only recently made it to Sanikiluaq.

MLA wants airport designated as 'hub'

Tununiq MLA Joe Enook wants his community, Pond Inlet, to be designated as the territory's fourth 'hub' airport after Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay.

Enook said the community is located within an hour's flying time from a half dozen other communities and its proximity to the Mary River project "makes it a strategic choice for being designated as North Baffin's hub airport," he said on Sept. 17.

Minister for the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, Peter Taptuna, said the government does not designate communities as hub airports or not.

"Everything depends on economic activity of the community," Taptuna replied.

"If it warrants that a community becomes a hub, it's up to the airlines and it's up to the industry."

In his follow-up question to the minister, Enook said it was important to act now to expand capacity and modernize facilities at the Pond Inlet airport in order to accommodate the large-scale development that will take place in the North.

Taptuna said his understanding is that the users of the Mary River mine plan to fly in and out of the site using their own infrastructure.

Concerns over cruise ships

Nanulik MLA Johnny Ningeongan is concerned about the effect cruise ships are having on Nunavut's wildlife and environment.

Community members, he said, have reported seeing ships disrupting walrus found around Walrus Island and Coats Island.

"These areas are very important to us," stated Ningeongan in the legislative assembly on Sept. 16.

Ningeongan said he wants more done to notify communities of visiting cruise ships and also wondered if measures could be taken to control interactions between tourists and the environment.

He asked Economic Development and Transportation Minister Peter Taptuna to work with the departments of Environment and Fisheries and Oceans to address this issue.

Taptuna said he would talk to his staff about communicating better with Nunavut Tourism.

However, he acknowledged that in the future there may be an issue with cruise ships hindering community harvesters.

"It's just a matter of better co-ordinating with Nunavut Tourism and Canada Border Services Agency to make sure that the routes are made known to the communities that are involved in walrus hunting and other marine mammal harvesting," he said.

Youth advocate to be hired

Commissioner Edna Elias gave assent to the Child and Youth Representative Act Sept. 17 in the legislative assembly.

Under Bill 40, an advocate will be hired as a voice for youth.

This person will be independent of the government.

"The representative for children and youth will be our watchdog to ensure that our most vulnerable children and youth get the service they need and deserve," Premier Eva Aariak explained in the legislative assembly on Sept. 16.

This person will be tasked with identifying ways to improve services for children and youth, reviewing legislation pertaining to youth, submitting an annual report to MLAs with recommendations and findings, and ensuring youth voices are heard and considered in matters of government.

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